{"product_id":"the-woman-in-the-rumor-噂の女-original-japanese-daiei-ad-book-exhibitor-display-poster-1954-kenji-mizoguchi-36-33-cm-m199","title":"\"The Woman in the Rumor\" (噂の女), Original Japanese Daiei Ad Book Exhibitor Display Poster 1954, Kenji Mizoguchi, 36 × 33 cm M199","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-8 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden @[53.5rem]\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal double-sided Japanese exhibitor display poster\u003c\/strong\u003e produced for the first release of Kenji Mizoguchi’s \u003cem\u003eThe Woman in the Rumor\u003c\/em\u003e (噂の女, \u003cem\u003eUwasa no Onna\u003c\/em\u003e) in 1954.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasuring approximately \u003cstrong\u003e36 × 33 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e, it is not a standard theatrical poster. It is an original double-page promotional sheet from \u003cstrong\u003eDAIEI AD BOOK No. 442\u003c\/strong\u003e, an industry publication prepared for cinema exhibitors. The identification is printed discreetly along the lower margin of the colour artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese trade publications supplied theatre managers with official imagery, cast and production information, plot summaries, publicity language and ready-prepared advertising material. The colour side could also function as a compact display image and poster, while the reverse provided the practical information required to promote the film locally. As ephemeral working material, surviving Daiei Ad Book sheets from the 1950s are considerably scarcer than conventional printed programmes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFilm background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReleased by Daiei on \u003cstrong\u003e20 June 1954\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Woman in the Rumor\u003c\/em\u003e was directed by \u003cstrong\u003eKenji Mizoguchi\u003c\/strong\u003e, with a screenplay by Yoshikata Yoda and Masashige Narusawa, cinematography by Kazuo Miyagawa and music by Toshiro Mayuzumi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe film belongs to an extraordinary period in Mizoguchi’s career. During 1954, he also released \u003cem\u003eSansho the Bailiff\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Crucified Lovers\u003c\/em\u003e. Unlike those historical dramas, \u003cem\u003eThe Woman in the Rumor\u003c\/em\u003e is a contemporary \u003cem\u003egendai-geki\u003c\/em\u003e examining the position of women in postwar Japanese society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story takes place in Kyoto’s historic \u003cstrong\u003eShimabara licensed quarter\u003c\/strong\u003e, where the widowed Hatsuko Mabuchi, played by Kinuyo Tanaka, operates a traditional house for \u003cem\u003etayū\u003c\/em\u003e courtesans. Her educated daughter Yukiko, played by Yoshiko Kuga, returns from Tokyo after attempting suicide when her fiancé rejects her because of her mother’s profession.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYukiko initially regards the house and its inhabitants with disgust. Her outlook gradually changes as she witnesses the economic circumstances that have brought its women there. Further conflict develops when Yukiko becomes close to the young physician Kenji Matoba, played by Tomoemon Ōtani—the same man her mother hopes to marry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough this triangle, Mizoguchi examines \u003cstrong\u003egenerational conflict, romantic betrayal, economic dependence and the social hypocrisy surrounding women’s labour and sexuality\u003c\/strong\u003e. The film was also the fifteenth and final collaboration between Mizoguchi and Kinuyo Tanaka, one of the defining director–actor partnerships of Japan’s cinematic golden age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePromotional design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe colour front is an exceptionally stylish example of \u003cstrong\u003e1950s Japanese studio publicity design\u003c\/strong\u003e. Its palette of pale mint green, soft pink, deep red and black is divided through sweeping geometric forms and halftone photographic imagery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA monumental portrait of \u003cstrong\u003eYoshiko Kuga as Yukiko\u003c\/strong\u003e fills the right side. Her solemn, inward-looking expression immediately establishes the character’s emotional isolation. On the left, \u003cstrong\u003eKinuyo Tanaka as Hatsuko\u003c\/strong\u003e appears in traditional dress and glasses, creating a direct visual opposition between mother and daughter, tradition and modernity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow them, a dramatic monochrome vignette shows Yukiko struggling with Dr. Matoba, foreshadowing the romantic and psychological conflict at the centre of the story. The Japanese title \u003cstrong\u003e噂の女\u003c\/strong\u003e is printed across the upper section in enormous blood-red brush lettering, while the prominent credit \u003cstrong\u003e監督 溝口健二\u003c\/strong\u003e announces Mizoguchi’s authorship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse reveals the sheet’s original trade function. It contains the film’s \u003cstrong\u003eproduction intentions, staff and cast lists, synopsis, promotional strategy, suggested advertising copy and broadcast material\u003c\/strong\u003e. The section headed \u003cstrong\u003e文案\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied exhibitors with ready-written publicity language, while additional areas offered information that could be adapted for newspaper advertisements, cinema announcements and local promotional campaigns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis combination of visually accomplished front artwork and practical studio material makes the piece more than a miniature poster. It is a surviving document of how \u003cstrong\u003eDaiei marketed a Mizoguchi film to Japanese cinemas and audiences in 1954\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis piece is in \u003cstrong\u003eexcellent condition\u003c\/strong\u003e. The front retains strong, attractive colours and presents beautifully. The original publication folds remain visible, together with only minor handling and age-related wear consistent with its original format. The reverse is clean and highly legible, preserving its extensive exhibitor information particularly well (please refer to imagery of both sides of the exact piece for sale).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is over \u003cstrong\u003e72 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot a reproduction or a reprint\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden has-[\u0026gt;_:empty]:hidden\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57166164427130,"sku":null,"price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/IMG_3156_262301b0-c062-4296-a546-1e07120b094f.jpg?v=1786743002","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/the-woman-in-the-rumor-%e5%99%82%e3%81%ae%e5%a5%b3-original-japanese-daiei-ad-book-exhibitor-display-poster-1954-kenji-mizoguchi-36-33-cm-m199","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}